UAB Archives

A Chronological History ofthe University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)and its Predecessor Institutions and Organizations, 1831-

(Please contact the UAB Archives for additional information.)

Copyright: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) traces its roots to the 1859 founding of the Medical College of Alabama and the 1936 opening of the Birmingham Extension Center of the University of Alabama. In 1945 the Medical College of Alabama was moved from Tuscaloosa and the University's Medical Center was founded in Birmingham. In 1954 the Extension Center was moved to a newly constructed facility adjacent to the Medical Center, bringing together for the first time the University's two academic components in Birmingham. Later, in November of 1966, the Extension Center and the Medical Center were administratively merged to form the "University of Alabama in Birmingham," an organizational component of the University of Alabama (in Tuscaloosa). In 1969 UAB became an independent institution, one of the autonomous universities within the newly created three-campus University of Alabama System.

Today, UAB is a comprehensive urban university with a nationally recognized academic health center. UAB is the only public, four-year degree granting university in the state's largest metropolitan area. UAB is the largest research institution in the state of Alabama and is the largest single employer in the state.

A comprehensive chronology of the history of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and its predecessor entities is found below. Underlined and bolded items in this list may be selected to see portraits or photographs about the specific person or event.

Browse by Decade

1990s

January 1, 1990: Effective on this date, all buildings, grounds, offices, parking lots, and parking decks at UAB became smoke free.

April 1990: Dr. Juan M. Navia became second dean of the School of Public Health.

June 3, 1990: At the 20th annual commencement, UAB recognized the school’s 50,000th graduate, Michelle Hight who received a bachelor’s degree in marketing. At the ceremony, 3,338 degrees and certificates were awarded.

June 22, 1990: UAB Vaccine Center was established. Dr. Jerry R. McGhee served as the center's first director.

August 1, 1990: Dr. Tennant S. McWilliams became third dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, succeeding Belinda McCarthy who had served as interim dean since June first.

August 1, 1990: Dr. William A. Sibley became first vice president for Academic Affairs.

September 1, 1990: Patrick J. Murphy became the third Chief of Police.

September 1, 1990: Dr. Virginia D. Gauld became second vice president for Student Affairs. She was the first female vice president at UAB.

October 1990: UAB Campus Taxi began as a service to the UAB community. The service, which began with two vehicles, was available Monday through Friday at 40 predetermined locations around the campus.

October 1990: Dr. John H. Walker became interim vice president for Administration. In 1992 he became interim vice president for Administration and Human Resources when the office was reorganized.

November 2, 1990: The Gay/Lesbian Student Union was recognized as an official student organization by vote of the Student Government Association. The LGBT group was later reorganized and renamed as the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Alliance.

November 1990: UAB Blazers became one of the charter members of the new Great Midwest Conference.

1990: Alabama's first use of single-fiber arthroscope for monitoring the treatment of arthritis occurred at University Hospital.

1990: Dr. Victor J. Matukas was named fifth dean of the School of Dentistry after having served as interim dean since November 16, 1989.

1990: Laurie J. Skellie became the fifth UAB student named as a Truman Scholar.

1990: The first use of a monoclonal antibody to treat rheumatoid arthritis occurred at University Hospital.

1990: UAB awarded its 50,000th degree.

February 20, 1991: Twin Towers, a student residence, was renamed Camp Hall in honor of Ehney A. Camp, a former member of The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

March 13, 1991: Dr. Charles A. McCallum, Jr., announced that UAB would field an NCAA Division III football team. Dr. Jim Hilyer, who had served as coach of the club team for its two seasons, was named head coach.

May 2, 1991: UAB held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Bertha and Joseph Smolian International House on 10th Avenue South.

May 3, 1991: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the Teaching and Learning Center.

May 17, 1991: University Center was renamed and rededicated as the Hill University Center in honor of UAB's second president, Dr. S. Richardson Hill, Jr.

May 22, 1991: Dr. Joan F. Lorden received the first Carolyn P. and Charles W. Ireland Prize for Scholarly Distinction and presented a lecture titled "Behavior: The Organizing Principle for the Nervous System."

September 7, 1991: The UAB football team played its first intercollegiate football game, losing 28-0 to Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.

September 13, 1991: Center for Psychiatric Medicine received approval from The University of Alabama Board of Trustees as an official UAB center.

September 14, 1991: The UAB football team played its first home game at Legion Field but the Blazers lost 28-10 to Evangel College. John Woltersdorf kicked a 27-yard field goal to score UAB's first points; five minutes later running back Pat Green became the first player to score a touchdown for UAB.

September 21, 1991: The UAB football team gained its first win with a 34-21 victory over Washington and Lee.

October 9, 1991: The Bone Marrow Transplant Program was reactivated at UAB with Dr. William P. Vaughan as head. The program had been in operation briefly between 1981 and 1983.

October 17, 1991: The West Pavilion of University Hospital was dedicated.

October 1991: Richard Deason became interim General Manager of WBHM-FM Radio.

December 8, 1991: The first UAB National Alumni Society Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Dr. Lawrence J. DeLucas during commencement exercises. Dr. DeLucas had earned five degrees from UAB.

December 13, 1991: Alzheimer's Disease Center established.

December 1991: UAB Clinic Inverness opened.

December 1991: The street outside of UAB's Clark Memorial Theatre was renamed Hatcher Place in honor of James F. Hatcher, Jr., the founding director of the UAB Town and Gown Theatre.

1991: Dr. Kenneth J. Roozen became first vice president for Research and University Affairs, after the merger of the offices of research development and university affairs.

1991: First UAB Outdoor Sculpture Display competition was held.

1991: Vice presidents Dr. John R. Durant and Dr. William A. Sibley became acting deans and co-directors of the Graduate School.

January 1, 1992: Dr. O. Dale Williams became dean of the School of Public Health.

January 1992: James A. Lee was named acting administrator of University Hospital.

January 1992: Dr. Martha C. Nussbaum, of Brown University, was selected as the first Caroline and Charles W. Ireland Distinguished Visiting Scholar. Her visit to UAB included a public lecture on Greek tragedy and Aristotle’s Poetics.

February 1992: The UAB Arena office towers opened.

February 4, 1992: Michael L. Morgan became third General Manager of WBHM-FM Radio.

April 10, 1992: The Wallace R. Bunn Chair in Telecommunications in the School of Engineering was formally established by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Originally, it had been established in 1991 as an endowed professorship.

April 28, 1992: A new facility for the Smolian International House was dedicated.

May 6, 1992: UAB unveiled new office space for the Blazer Football coaches and staff in a section of Birmingham’s Legion Field. The university and the City worked together to provide the program its first official office space. The space at Legion Field would be used for three years until football operations were moved to an on-campus site.

May 26, 1992: Dr. Charles L. Joiner named second dean of the School of Health Related Professions, after having served as interim dean since January first.

November 1992:UAB Archives formally established as a campus-wide unit. Virginia E. Fisher was named first University Archivist.

1992: Nancy W. Clemmons became acting director of the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences.

1992: Dr. John N. Whitaker became the fourth president of The University of Alabama Health Services Foundation.

1992: Mert Ertunga became the first head coach of the new Women's Tennis team.

January 1, 1993: At the start of the calendar year, new NCAA regulations required that any university operating other sports at the Division I level must also operate football as either a Division I-A or a Division I-AA team.

January 9, 1993: The Blazer Warrior, UAB's third official mascot, was unveiled at a men's basketball game against Marquette University. After much public outcry, the Viking-inspired mascot was dropped within six months.

January 18, 1993: UAB first observed Martin Luther King, Jr., Day as an institutional holiday.

March 12-13, 1993: The Blizzard of 1993, the so-called Storm of the Century, dumped a record 13 inches of snow on Birmingham, with some areas in the metro receiving up to 17 inches. This was a Birmingham record for a single snowfall and was more than ever received during an entire winter season. All activities at UAB except for essential hospital services were cancelled and many staff remained at their jobs for days.

March 23, 1993: In the first night game held at the Jerry D. Young Memorial Field, the Men's Baseball team defeated Southern Mississippi by a score of 6 to 4.

March 1993: Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith was named first vice president for Financial Affairs.

May 11, 1993: The Bevill Biomedical Research Building was dedicated.

June 16, 1993: Groundbreaking was held for the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center.

June 25, 1993: South Hall, a student residence, was renamed and rededicated as Rast Hall in honor of Thomas E. Rast, a former member of The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

July 1993: Dr. J. Claude Bennett was named to succeed Dr. Charles A. McCallum, Jr., as president of UAB.

September 6, 1993: In a game against Troy State University, the UAB football team played its first game as a Division I-AA scholarship team.

September 17, 1993: The Center for Obstetric Research (later renamed the Center for Research in Women's Reproductive Health) was approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Dr. Robert L. Goldenberg was named as the center's first director.

September 17, 1993: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the UAB Liver Center. Dr. Harold J. Fallon was named as interim director of the new center.

October 1, 1993: Dr. J. Claude Bennett assumed office as the fourth president of UAB.

October 4, 1993: Kevin E. Lofton became first executive director of University Hospital and the first African American to direct University Hospital.

December 1993: Drs. George L. Zorn, Jr., and David C. McGiffin performed University Hospital’s first double-lung transplant on a 41-year-old patient from Florida.

1993: Central Bank Building was renovated and renamed the UAB Administration Building.

1993: UAB first presented its Outstanding Women’s Award to several university administrators, faculty, staff and students. Dr. Virginia Gauld, Betty Jean Duff and Debra Strother received awards for administrator/staff. Dr. Ada Long received the award for faculty. Janet Cash received the award for students.

1993: Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention was established.

1993: Dr. Kenneth J. Roozen was named executive vice president.

1993: UAB's economic impact on the Birmingham region was estimated at more than $1.5 billion per year.

January 1, 1994: Walker College, an independent school in Jasper, Alabama, was acquired and renamed UAB Walker College.

September 14, 1994: Construction began on a major expansion of the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences.

September 17, 1994: The UAB Marching Blazers, a new 135-member student band, debuted in its first home game at Legion Field. Brian Wilson was the first drum major/field conductor; Clifford "Ski" Winter, an associate professor of music, was first director of bands.

September 21, 1994: At a University-wide picnic in the Mini Park, UAB celebrated its 25th anniversary as an independent campus.

September 20, 1994: The Center for Industrial and Applied Research/Genesis Center received approval as an official UAB center by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

October 14, 1994: School of Optometry Building was renamed the Henry B. Peters Building in honor of the school's founding dean.

October 22, 1994: UAB first celebrated Homecoming during the fall. Previously, festivities had been held in conjunction with the basketball season.

January 16, 1995: The first simultaneous heart-kidney transplant in the Southeast was performed at UAB by Drs. David C. McGiffin and David Laskow.

February 17, 1995: Specialized Caries Research Center was approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

April 21, 1995: The Stroke Research Center renamed Comprehensive Stroke Research Center.

April 24, 1995: UAB Blazers became one of the charter members of Conference USA (C-USA).

June 23, 1995: Cell Adhesion and Matrix Research Center was established.

August 21, 1995: Dr. Michael A. Geheb became first director of the UAB Health Systems with oversight and coordination of the UAB Hospital, Health Services Foundation, Triton, and clinical activities of the faculty.

August 1995: Paul Harbin became the first head coach of the new Women's Soccer team.

September 1995: Caron Van Gilder became first director of the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center.

September 1995: Jack Mott retired as president of UAB Walker College and was succeeded by interim president David Rowland.

September 1995: UAB celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Academic Health Center.

October 1, 1995: UAB assumed administrative responsibility of the School of Primary Medical Care and the University Medical Clinics of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). It was renamed the "University of Alabama School of Medicine Huntsville Program."

October 1, 1995: Dr. Scott Buchalter became University Hospital's second chief-of-staff.

October 14, 1995: The UAB football team had its first win over an NCAA Division I-A opponent, beating North Texas 19-14.

October 18, 1995:Blaze the dragon was unveiled as the new UAB mascot, the university's fourth.

October 27, 1995: T. Scott Plutchak became fourth director of the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences.

October 1995: Harry C. Marzette, Sr., became the fourth Chief of Police after having served as interim over the past year.

November 1995: Local press revealed university plans to possibly lease or sell University Hospital.

December 14, 1995: The Center for Educational Accountability was approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Dr. James E. McLean served as the first director.

December 14, 1995: The Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center was formally established by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Drs. Tim M. Townes and Josef T. Prchal were named as co-directors of the center.

December 14, 1995: The Sexually Transmitted Diseases Cooperative Research Center (later renamed the Center for Social Medicine and Sexually Transmitted Diseases) was formally established by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Dr. Edward W. Hook III was named first director of the center.

1995: New Co., a limited liability company directed by Jim Little, was formed to establish a network of primary-care physicians in Alabama.

1995: Physical Sciences Building was renamed the Chemistry Building.

1995: The UAB Gospel Choir founded with 38 student members under the direction of director Kevin P. Turner.

1995: The UAB Men’s Tennis Team won the conference championship for a fifth consecutive season. Derek J. Tarr, head coach of the Blazers, also won the Conference Coach of the Year award for the sixth consecutive year.

1995: The Offices of Vice President for Health Affairs and Vice President for Academic Affairs were abolished and replaced by a new Provost's Office. Dr. Kenneth J. Roozen was named first provost.

1995: Harold L. Abroms became interim vice president for University Advancement, a newly established administrative office.

January 6, 1996: UAB's new mascot -- the university's fourth official mascot -- Blaze the dragon made its first public appearance during a basketball game at the UAB Arena.

January 1996: Dr. Charlotte G. Borst became first executive director of UAB Historical Collections, comprised by the Reynolds Historical Library, the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences, and the UAB Archives.

January 1996: The UAB Office of Minority and Special Programs was established within the Office of the Provost.

March 1, 1996: A UAB Health Center opened in Homewood.

March 1, 1996: Fred Brooke Lee became first vice president for University Advancement.

April 19, 1996: The Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and the Center for Radical Free Cell Biology were approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Dr. Jay M. McDonald was named as first director of the Center for Metabolic Bone Disease. Dr. Bruce A. Freeman was named as first director of the Center for Radical Free Cell Biology.

April 19, 1996: Center for Biomedical Sciences was renamed UAB Biomedical Implant Center by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

April 1996: Murry Bartow became the second head coach of the Men's Basketball team.

May 1996: It was reported that UAB's economic impact on the local community was more than $1.55 billion for FY 1995, an increase of over $100 million since 1993 and more than double its 1985 economic impact.

June 4, 1996: Dedication ceremonies were held for the UAB Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Laboratory.

June 28, 1996: The journal Science named three UAB faculty, Drs. Michael Saag, George M. Shaw, and Beatrice H. Hahn, among the top 10 AIDS researchers in the country, and highlighted the AIDS research program at UAB.

July 1, 1996: UAB Options established to assist the non-traditional student and administer non-credit courses, it superseded the UAB Special Studies program.

July 1, 1996: Dr. Charlotte G. Borst, executive director of Historical Collections, became second University Archivist.

July 1996: Dr. Eli Capilouto was named fourth dean of the School of Public Health after having served as interim dean since November 4, 1994.

July 1996: West Field on the UAB campus was used as a practice site for several soccer teams participating in matches played in Birmingham's Legion Field as part of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Many UAB employees also volunteered to help the city of Birmingham host the soccer matches.

August 31, 1996: For fiscal year 1995-1996, the UAB Research Foundation topped $1 million in license income. UAB became one of about 30 institutions nationwide to reach that amount in annual license income.

August 31, 1996: The Football team lost to Auburn in the first UAB game as an NCAA Division I-A school.

September 27, 1996: University of Alabama Board of Trustee member John T. Oliver, Jr., was named interim chancellor of the three-campus University of Alabama System effective October first.

September 27, 1996: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the Center for Research in Applied Gerontology.

October 1, 1996: UAB Health System, a nonprofit entity, established in a joint operating agreement between The University of Alabama Board of Trustees and the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation.

November 13, 1996: President J. Claude Bennett announced plans to resign his presidency effective January 1, 1997. Interim Chancellor John T. Oliver, Jr., introduced Paul Hardin as interim president of UAB.

December 12, 1996: Center for Obstetric Research was renamed the Center for Research in Women's Health by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

December 12, 1996: Center for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Cooperative Research Center was renamed the UAB Center for Social Medicine and Sexually Transmitted Diseases by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

December 12, 1996: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the renaming of buildings in honor of Gene Bartow and of Drs. Charles A. McCallum and James A. Pittman, Jr.

December 12, 1996: The Clinical Nutrition Research Center was approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Dr. Roland L. Weinsier was named as first director of the new center.

December 12, 1996: The Howell and Elizabeth Heflin Center for Human Genetics was approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

December 12, 1996: The UAB Laser and Photonics Research Center (later renamed as the Center for Optical Sensors and Spectroscopies) was approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Dr. David L. Shealy served as the center's first director.

December 23, 1996: UAB assumed 100% ownership of Triton Health Systems and its VIVA Health HMO subsidiary. John Cline was later named interim CEO of VIVA Health.

December 1996: Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith became interim vice president for Financial Affairs and Administration.

1996: President J. Claude Bennett was named a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences becoming the second UAB physician to be so honored.

1996: The 4,000th kidney transplant was performed at University Hospital.

1996: John J. McMahon, Jr., became first chair of the UAB Health System Managing Board.

1996: With a new $2.3 million five-year grant, UAB became one of the nation's four Oral Cancer Research Centers. Dr. Jeffrey A. Engler was named as first director of the center.

1996: Dr. Albert W. Niemi, Jr., became third dean of the School of Business.

1996: Dr. Stephen A. Szygenda became fourth dean of the School of Engineering.

1996: David L. Abrams became interim president of UAB Walker College.

1996: In a survey by the National Research Corporation, University Hospital was named one of the most preferred hospitals in the nation for overall health-care services.

May 1997: UAB Genesis Center completed as the first of 25 buildings planned for the new 100-acre UAB Research Park at Oxmoor.

June 1, 1997: Dr. Thomas C. Meredith became fourth chancellor of the three-campus University of Alabama System.

June 1997: HealthSouth CEO and UAB alumnus Richard M. Scrushy agreed to donate $2 million for construction of a new building for the School of Health Related Professions.

July 1, 1997: The independent Eye Foundation Hospital was acquired by the UAB Health System and renamed the Eye Foundation Hospital at UAB.

July 17, 1997: Dr. W. Ann Reynolds was named president-elect of UAB, the first female president in the history of the three-campus University of Alabama System.

July 1997: Dr. W. Jack Duncan became interim dean of the School of Business.

September 1, 1997: The UAB Genesis Center was renamed the OADI Technology Center.

September 3, 1997: Drs. James K. Kirklin and David McGiffin headed the team which performed UAB's 500th heart transplant.

September 15, 1997: Dr. W. Ann Reynolds became fifth president of UAB.

September 17, 1997: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the name change of the Center for the Advancement of Developing Industries to the Office for the Advancement of Developing Industries Technology Center.

October 2, 1997: Ground was broken for the Richard M. Scrushy Building, future home of the School of Health Related Professions.

October 24, 1997: Dr. Suzanne Oparil delivered the thirty-fourth Distinguished Faculty Lecture, "Academic Family Values, or Can This Marriage Be Saved?"

November 6, 1997: A grand opening celebration was held for the new OADI Technology Center, the first building constructed in the UAB Research Park at Oxmoor.

November 1997:Dr. William B. Deal became dean of the School of Medicine after having served as interim since April.

1997: General Clinical Research Center was awarded a $20 million extension from the National Institutes of Health, the largest single grant in UAB history.

1997: Research grants and extramural funding in the School of Optometry exceeded $27 million, the largest amount for any optometry school or college in the world.

1997: The University of Alabama Hospital became the first hospital in the state to win the national “Top 100 Hospital’s Benchmarks for Success” award.

January 1, 1998: Dr. Shirley Salloway Kahn became interim vice president for Financial Affairs and Administration.

January 1, 1998 Ann Dumaresq became second director of the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center.

January 25, 1998: The Sorority Square Building, the renovated former Van Corr Building, officially opened to provide housing suites for five UAB sororities.

January 1998: President W. Ann Reynolds announced plans to dissolve the five-year cooperative agreement with UAB Walker College in Jasper.

February 6, 1998: Martin C. Nowak became interim executive director of University Hospital.

March 1998: Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award established and first awarded to Associate Professor Linda W. Goodson.

March 20, 1998: UAB Walker College was returned to control of the Walker College Foundation, ending the merger agreement with UAB.

March 20, 1998: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the Chemoprevention Center with Dr. Clinton J. Grubbs as first director.

April 24, 1998: Brad Rollow was named interim CEO of VIVA Health, Inc.

April 1998: Richard L. Margison became vice president for Financial Affairs and Administration.

April 1998: UAB announced that the men's track and field program would be eliminated at the end of the current academic year due to Title IX regulations requiring equity in men's and women's programs.

May 13, 1998: Dr. Mary Lynn Capilouto was named sixth dean of the School of Dentistry after having served as interim dean since March 1997.

June 10, 1998: The 1,000th laser vision correction procedure was performed at the Eye Foundation Hospital at UAB.

June 15, 1998: The 500th liver transplant was conducted at University Hospital.

June 25, 1998: After having served as interim since 1997, Dr. Peter V. O'Neil was named UAB's second Provost.

June 26, 1998: The Center for Contraceptive Research and Technology Transfer and the Center for the Study of Ethics and Values in the Sciences were approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Dr. George A. Graham was named as first director of the Ethics and Values center.

June 26, 1998: The Center for Community Outreach Development and the Southeast Center for Excellence in Geriatric Medicine were approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Drs. Stephen L. Hajduk and Richard M. Allman were named directors of the centers.

July 1, 1998: UAB Historical Collections became part of the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences. Library Director T. Scott Plutchak was named interim executive director.

July 1998: Dr. James B. McClintock was named interim dean of the Schhool of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

July 1998: Dr. Jane F. Milley was named interim dean of the School of Arts and Humanities.

August 9, 1998: Marla Townsend became the first head coach of the new Women's Fast-Pitch Softball team.

August 1998: Dr. Shirley Salloway Khan named interim vice president for Development, Alumni, and External Relations.

September 18, 1998: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the University Transportation Center, a joint effort of all three of the System's three campuses.

September 19, 1998: In the largest crowd to view a UAB football game at Legion Field, 30,543 people saw the UAB Blazers fall to the University of Kansas by the score of 39 to 37 in the fourth overtime.

September 1998: Dr. Robert E. Holmes named fourth dean of the School of Business, to succeed interim dean Dr. W. Jack Duncan on January 1, 1999.

September 1998: UAB's economic impact on the Birmingham region was estimated at more than $2 billion per year.

October 26, 1998: Dr. Michael A. Geheb, first director and CEO of the UAB Health System, announced his resignation effective December 5, 1998, and Dr. William B. Deal was named interim director and CEO.

October 1998: UAB awarded $750,000 as part of the Fannie Mae Foundation's 1998 University-Community Partnership Program, one of the largest non-medical grants in University history.

December 4, 1998: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education.

1998: Hejal C. Patel, a first-year medical student, was named to USA Today’s All-USA College Academic First Team. He was the first UAB student to be so honored.

1998: Mirela Vladulescu, a member of the Women's Tennis Team, was ranked number one in the nation. She also became the first Blazer, male or female, to win a collegiate Grand Slam event.

1998: Dr. Danny Doyle, second director of the UAB Marching Blazers, composed the Blazer Victory March, later renamed as the Blazer Victory Song.

January 31, 1999: Researchers Drs. Beatrice H. Hahn, George M. Shaw, and Feng Gao announced the discovery of the origin of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), the virus that causes AIDS in humans.

February 19, 1999: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved a major expansion and renovation plan for University Hospital.

February 19, 1999: The Center for Join Replacement, which had been established in 1998, was approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Dr. John M. Cuckler was the center's first director.

February 19, 1999: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the Gene Therapy Center, which had been established in 1998. Dr. David T. Curiel was named as the first director of the center.

March 1, 1999: Amy O'Donnell became the first head coach of the new Women's Synchronized Swimming team after having served as advisor to the developing program since 1998. UAB competition began in the fall.

March 1999: UAB ranked 28th in the nation and fourth in the South in the list of universities receiving federal research and development funding.

April 10, 1999: The inaugural Into the Streets Outreach Day was held. Sponsored by the UAB Volunteer Program, the day started at the Hill University Center with over 300 participating students.

May 1, 1999: UAB Health Center in Moody opened.

May 4, 1999: Martin C. Nowak was named second executive director of University Hospital.

May 16, 1999: A performance of "Cabaret" ended the 49-year run of Town and Gown Theatre and UAB's use of the Clark Memorial Theater on Hatcher Place.

June 16, 1999: UAB alumnus Larry Giangrosso became the third head coach of the Men's Baseball team.

June 25, 1999: Sidney L. McDonald was elected president pro tem of The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

July 1999: Dr. James B. McClintock was named third dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

August 1, 1999: UAB Health Center in Hoover opened.

August 1999: Dr. Shirley Salloway Kahn named first vice president for Development, Alumni and External Relations.

August 1999: Dr. Clair W. Goldsmith became first vice president for Information Technology.

September 17, 1999: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the Center for Injury Sciences and the Mercedes-Benz CIREN (Crash Injury Research Engineering Network) Center. Dr. Loring W. Rue, III, was named as the first director of both centers.

September 17, 1999: The UAB Pancreaticobiliary Center and the UAB Voice Treatment Center were approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

September 21, 1999: Drs. Anton J. Bueschen and Carlton J. Young performed the 5,000th kidney transplant at University Hospital.

September 26, 1999: An open house at the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center officially opened the Center's new venues, the Odess Theatre, the Sirote Theatre, and the Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall.

September 27, 1999: The General Clinical Research Center was formally dedicated as the Pittman General Clinical Research Center in honor of Dr. James A. Pittman, Jr.

September 1999: Dr. Adeniyi Coker, Jr., became director of UAB's new African American Studies program.

October 1, 1999: Dr. Michael J. Froning became interim dean of the School of Education.

October 1999: The Eye Foundation Hospital at UAB was renamed the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital at UAB in honor of founder Dr. Alston Callahan.

November 10, 1999: A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened as the first Department of Theatre production to be held in the new Sirote Theatre. The play was adapted by Karma Ibsen to be set in the Antebellum South.

November 18, 1999: The Women's Synchronized Swimming team debuted in an exhibition held in UAB's Bell Gym Aquatic Center.

November 19, 1999: The UAB Acute Chest Pain Center and the UAB Heart Center were approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

November 19, 1999: The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved an affiliation between UAB and the Southern Research Institute, a not-for-profit contract research organization with over $50 million in grants and contracts and which had been founded in 1941.

November 1999: The university launched a Capital Campaign with a goal of $250 million.

December 4, 1999: Neelaksh "Neel" Varshney, a senior electrical engineering major from Madison, Alabama, became the first UAB student chosen as a Rhodes Scholar.

1999: The AIDS Vaccine Evaluation Unit (AVEU) became the first evaluation unit to enter a Phase III trail of an AIDS vaccine.

1999: Paul W. Bryant, Jr., was elected to The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

1999: The Alys Stephens Center held its inaugural Starlight Gala. Legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman was the featured artist for the first gala.

1999: McClintock Point on the continent of Antarctica was named in honor of UAB's Dr. James B. McClintock, professor of Biology. The Point rises above an inlet on McMurdo Sound near McMurdo Station, the US Antarctic research center.

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.